Getting a C 2nd semester, junior year

Should I be really frantically worried about this?

I’ve had a really busy semester and a chronic cold basically all semester. I’m getting A’s in all my other classes but a C in honors algebra 2. I’m already considered to be a real " borderline" applicant in many respects… what should i do? when i apply to colleges should i explain to them the reasons behind my dropped grade? My GPA will still be a 4.40… but stlll, that C bothers me… what should i do? should i even be worried?

to give u any idea… ,so far the most selective schools i’m applying to are

Barnard
Uchicago
Boston U
American
UC Berkeley

<p>I think that the schools that you mentioned will not be too affected by a single C especially with your record. If you'd feel better, include a note describing the circumstances. Take responsibility, but explain why. It would be better for such a note to come from your guidance counselor. It would be a much bigger issue at schools only slightly more selective than the ones listed.</p>

<p>UC Berkeley is a state school required to take a certain percentage of in-state applicants. There is a lot of difference beween in-state and out-of-state applicants.</p>

<p>i know of someone who got into georgetown with 2 c's junior year</p>

<p>don't worry :)</p>

<p>thanks! Especially the one about Georgetown. i bet his recs and essay's were exceptional though. Anyway..</p>

<p>I believe there is a misunderstanding. I meant i'll still have a 4.40 for that semester with all the other AP's and honors i'm taking. All in all my weighted cumulative GPA is 3.75. I only cracked 4.00 in my junior year after i discovered AP's and honors lol. (late bloomer). So I do think i have cause for concern.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, I think im going to have my counselor write a note to all the schools I apply to concerning my grades and overall improvement in high school over the past 3 years. will that help?</p>

<p>I'm also gonna make sure my essays are suburb! </p>

<p>ok...?</p>

<p>You are gonna make sure your essays are out side of an urban city?</p>

<p>hahahahahahahahaha i crack myself up. i ment superb</p>

<p>Having a good recommendation from your GC would help a lot. Talking to the GC in advance would also get him/her interested in your case and improve your recommendation in any case. Provide the GC with a resume or activity list to make their job easier.</p>

<p>The recs don't matter much at the large public schools since they are much more numbers driven. </p>

<p>You might look at "Acing the College Application" by Michelle Hernandez. Most of the guides give you advice, but this book takes you thru the application form and gives you the tips as they apply to the actual app.</p>

<p>Oh ya, I forgot to post this earlier because I want to laugh at your spelling mistake, but...</p>

<p>I also "discovered" my passions late (second semester 10th grade to be exact) , hopefully having an uptrend is favorable. However, it is hard to believe that having half good/half bad grades throughout HS is better than consistent grade.</p>

<p>But I hope the people on this board is correct.:)</p>

<p>Having half good/half bad grades isn't better than consistently good grades. It is just that the trend matters. If freshman year was a bust, but sophomore and junior years were great along with good mid-year grades in senior year, then you are still okay except perhaps at HYPSM.</p>

<p>In this case, a single C won't seriously hurt you except at HYPSM. There is another thread going on right now where the OP had a C, but is talking about Harvard and Yale. He is getting different advice.</p>

<p>Why don't people just recognize that there are lots of schools as good as HYPSM and worry about personal fit instead of prestige? HYPSM are that selective because they have so many applications to go thru, and they have that many applications because of brand conciousness.</p>

<p>psh, give me a break. i'm tired and sick. lol. Anyway, you think upward trends help?</p>

<p>I've had a very good upward tren starting from the 2nd first semster of my sophomore year. i went from 2.67-->4.60 last semester. however, i'm experiencing a slight drop with my C. i'll be getting a 4.40 as i said earlier.. i hope that isn't looked down upon THAT much (although it probably will be.. )</p>

<p>I'm not applying to any ivy leagues.. This is a real short transcript i'm gonna give you here just so you can get an idea. </p>

<p>9th:
Ac Algebra I- C, D, A( summer school)
Ac Spanish 2- A, A
Ac English - B, C
Ac Biology- B, B
Choir- A,A
Ac Wrld Hist- B, C</p>

<p>10th
Choir- A,A
Ac Chemistry- B, B
Honors Spanish- B, A
Ac Geometry- B,B
Honors English- A, A</p>

<p>JC: 1st semester- History- A
2nd semester- Poli Sci- A</p>

<p>11th:
Honors English- A,A
Choir- A,A
AP spanish- A,A
AP Biology- A,A
Honors Algerbra II- B, C</p>

<p>JC Courses: 1st semester: Psychology- A
2nd semester: Dance (for PE requirement) could not fit any other academic classes into my schedule. </p>

<hr>

<p>So, see. I'm a sketchy applicant. Although i'm not stupid. In the past i slacked a lot. This past semester i've been sick a lot and busy with several plays and choir stuff (rehearsals take a lot out of you)</p>

<p>Anyway.. i hope that helps</p>